Definitely, there's something in the water down in Bristol. But I think dubstep relies alot more on the sub-levels for it's riddims that you don't get with trip hop.
That element doesn't comes across particularly well in the videos either, you need a decent soundsystem with the bass right up. The raves though, my god, you feel the melodies in your chest cavity more than you hear them...
Admittedly disconcerting at first but it's addictive. You can trace the whole thing back through London's Afro-Caribbean population, soundsystem culture, dancehall and reggae.
I think DMZ is a monthly thing now, my ex-flatmate and I were planning to go but never did... smoking spliffs on the dancefloor, hoods up and skanking were the order of the day. Smoking ban has obviously rubbished that though. Pah
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